On this day 46 years ago, around 40,000 people congregated in Alexander Park, Greater Manchester, 15,000 having marched from Strangeways Prison as part of The Northern Carnival against the Nazis. The event was particularly targeted at young, white working-class people.
In 1978 I was a naive fifteen year old boy, brought up with everyday racism, sexism and homophobia, all perpetrated through popular culture, the media and the education system - and my community. Rock Against Racism was one of the movements that introduced me to other ways of thinking, being and doing. It also taught me that the arts - in all their forms - have a powerful part to play in social change.
We’ve been taught to believe our individual voice is irrelevant. Collective, direct action emerges from outrage - an inevitable response to feeling out of control.
This large machine newsprint poster, was designed by the brilliant David King, and most were pasted up in public spaces around the North West. Very few survived, not least because the Anti Nazi League office in London had been firebombed.
Power to People - to Unions - to Activists - and to Artists.
Photo - John Sturrock
hwww.mdmarchive.co.uk/exhibition/we-are-dynamite!-northern-carnival-1978
https://www.mdmarchive.co.uk (We Are Dynamite)
https://britishculturearchive.co.uk/thomas-blower-rock-against-racism-alexandra-park-1978/
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